Graphic Designers

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

O*NET-SOC code: 27-1024.00

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery high
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
Source dataset (XLSX download)
Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.367
0.000Range of values carried here0.745
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
Source dataset (CSV download)
Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.49
0.09Range of values carried here0.70
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Show 8 hidden tasks

16 rated tasks · 16 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (100.0%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.

Source: OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release: gh-main-0471612
License: MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Task (O*NET 20.1)	Claude.aiRaw / share %
Use computer software to generate new images. 27-1024.00	0.036833.4
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type. 27-1024.00	0.034531.3
Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer. 27-1024.00	0.012511.4
Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites. 27-1024.00	0.011410.4
Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing. 27-1024.00	0.00514.7
Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts. 27-1024.00	0.00333.0
Research new software or design concepts. 27-1024.00	0.00272.4
Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer. 27-1024.00	0.00222.0
Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products. 27-1024.00	0.00161.5

Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.

Task (O*NET 27.2)	βE1 + 0.5 × E2
Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts. O*NET Task ID 299	0.5
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type. O*NET Task ID 300	0.5
Use computer software to generate new images. O*NET Task ID 301	0.5
Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer. O*NET Task ID 302	0.5
Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer. O*NET Task ID 303	0.5
Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed. O*NET Task ID 304	0.5
Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design. O*NET Task ID 305	0.5
Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites. O*NET Task ID 306	0.5
Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor. O*NET Task ID 307	0.5
Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes. O*NET Task ID 308	0.5
Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services. O*NET Task ID 309	0.5
Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing. O*NET Task ID 310	0.5
Photograph layouts, using camera, to make layout prints for supervisors or clients. O*NET Task ID 312	0.5
Produce still and animated graphics for on-air and taped portions of television news broadcasts, using electronic video equipment. O*NET Task ID 313	0.5
Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products. O*NET Task ID 15228	0.5
Research new software or design concepts. O*NET Task ID 15229	0.5
Show 6 more tasks ▾Show less ▴

β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (19)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)	Type
Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.	Core
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.	Core
Use computer software to generate new images.	Core
Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.	Core
Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.	Core
Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.	Core
Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.	Core
Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.	Core
Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.	Core
Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.	Core
Study illustrations and photographs to plan presentation of materials, products, or services.	Core
Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.	Core
Produce still and animated graphics for on-air and taped portions of television news broadcasts, using electronic video equipment.	Core
Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.	Core
Research new software or design concepts.	Core
Prepare digital files for printing.	Core
Research the target audience of projects.	Core
Photograph layouts, using camera, to make layout prints for supervisors or clients.	Supplemental
Write or edit copy for clients.	Supplemental

Anthropic, "What work can robots do?"2026-09

0.00/ 3· Robot exposure index

0 none3 unstructured settings

Scale, basis and source

Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time

Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks

Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.

Source dataset

The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.

Tier of each physical task

Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)

E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site

Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.

Task (O*NET 29.3)	Robot environment tier
Photograph layouts, using camera, to make layout prints for supervisors or clients.	E1 purpose-built robot settings

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025: 253K
Projected employment, 2035: 249K
Change (2025–35): -1.7%
Median annual wage, 2025: $62,960
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO code	KSCO title	Relation	Status
29541	광고 디자이너	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29542	포장 디자이너	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29543	책 디자이너	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29546	활자 디자이너	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29545	색채 전문가	Related, not a match	confirmed
29552	멀티미디어 디자이너	Related, not a match	confirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

ISCO-08 2166Graphic and Multimedia Designers

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Graphic and multimedia designers design visual and audio-visual content for the communication of information using print, film, electronic, digital and other forms of visual and audio media. They create graphics, special effects, animation or other visual images for use in computer games, movies, music videos, print media and advertisements.

Tasks

(a) determining the objectives and constraints of the design brief by consulting with clients and stakeholders;
(b) undertaking research and analysing functional communication requirements;
(c) formulating design concepts for the subject to be communicated;
(d) preparing sketches, diagrams, illustrations and layouts to communicate design concepts;
(e) designing complex graphics and animation to satisfy functional, aesthetic and creative requirements of the design brief;
(f) creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modelling programmes;
(g) negotiating design solutions with clients, management, sales and production staff;
(h) selecting, specifying or recommending functional and aesthetic materials and media for publication, delivery or display;
(i) detailing and documenting the selected design for production;
(j) supervising or carrying out production in the chosen media.

Example occupations

Animator · Commercial artists · Computer games designer · Digital artist · Graphic designer · Illustrator · Multimedia designer · Publication designer · Web designer

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

graphic designerESCO 2166.10Same scope
Graphic designers create text and images to communicate ideas. They make visual concepts by hand or using computer software, intended for publishing in paper or online media such as advertisements, websites, and magazines.
digital artistESCO 2166.6Overlapping, not the same
Digital artists create art which applies digital technology as an essential part of the creative process. Digital art is usually created using computers or more specialised digital equipment. It may be enjoyed using the same instruments, shared over the internet, or presented using more traditional media.
illustratorESCO 2166.11Overlapping, not the same
Illustrators provide a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. Illustrations can help clarify difficult concepts or objects that are hard to describe textually. Illustrators can work for books, magazines, journals, comic books and other publications.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME code	ROME title (French)	Relation
E1205	Designer graphique	Same scopeprovisional
E1104	Concepteur / Conceptrice de contenus multimedia	Related, not a match
E1211	Dessinateur-illustrateur / Dessinatrice-illustratrice	Related, not a matchprovisional
E1306	Opérateur / Opératrice de prépresse	Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 code	CNO-11 title (Spanish)	Relation
2484	Diseñadores gráficos y multimedia	This occupation is narrowerprovisional

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB code	KldB title (German)	Relation
23222	Berufe im Grafik-, Kommunikations- und Fotodesign - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broader
23223	Berufe im Grafik-, Kommunikations- und Fotodesign - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten	This occupation is broader
23224	Berufe im Grafik-, Kommunikations- und Fotodesign - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broader

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO code	JSCO title (Japanese)	Relation
224	デザイナー	This occupation is narrower

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Recent Changes Related to This Occupation

Summaries and relation labels are AI Changing Work's own; check any figures against the linked source.

RelatedJul 2025: Brookings (Hui & Reshef, Jul 2025): after image generators such as DALL-E 2 and Midjourney arrived, freelancers in exposed services like graphic design saw effects as large as those after ChatGPT (about 2% fewer new monthly contracts and 5% lower earnings), and experienced, higher-priced freelancers were hit hardest.
[Source: Brookings Institution (Hui & Reshef, 2025)]

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources